Bellows latch device for accordions



April 23, 1940. c. LINDEBERG BELLOWS LATCH DEVICE FOR' ACCORDIONS Filed Dec. 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I4Il4IIIIIIIIII!llllflililllllllllllllllllirrllrfiv\ INVENTOR. C'flKL 1 //VDBE/? 6.

Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Rudolph Wurlitzer Company,

a corporation Cincinnati, Ohio,

Application December 15, 1938, Serial No. 245,837

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an accordion, and particularly with respect to the latching devices for holding the accordion in collapsed position.

It has been the usual practice to provide end straps with snap buttons, the straps being secured to the bass box and removably fastened to the treble box for holding the two boxes together with the bellows collapsed when the accordion is not being played. Upon playing, the straps are unsnapped to permit free movement of the bellows. Such accordions are also provided with an air release valve having an exposed valve button for permitting the valve to be opened and air released therethrough when the bellows are compressed for closing the instrument and fastening the end straps, while at the same time avoiding the use of the keys and reed valves for permitting the escape of air. Thus, by the air release valve, the bellows may be collapsed without sound.

One object of this invention is to provide internally arranged and concealed means for latching the accordion in collapsed position, thus doing away with the unsightly exposed end straps.

Another object of the invention is to mechanically associate the bellows latching mechanism with the air release mechanism for permitting control of both mechanisms by a single air release actuating button.

By means of the invention the bellows latching mechanism becomes semi-automatic in its action as well as concealed, since it is controlled through the action of the air release mechanism.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through an accordion showing the bellows latch mechanism in looking position with the air release valve closed. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section showing the bellows expanded with the latch mech-- anism released and the air release valve open. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings there is shown an accordion having the usual treble box III with a keyboard I I extending therefrom and the usual bass box I2 with the bass key buttons I3 extending from one side thereof. Secured between the treble and bass boxes there is provided the usual bellows I4.

The structure shown herein for purpose of clearness omits from the treble and bass boxes the usual reed blocks, valves and control mecha- Mounted on the bass valve board I5 there is an air release valve for permitting the free release of air without sound when it is desired to collapse the bellows for latching the instrument in inoperative position. The valve comprises an air passage I6 through the valve board adapted to be controlled by a valve head I'I mounted on an arm I8 which is rigidly secured to a rod I9. The rod I9 extends the full length of the valve board I5 and is pivotally supported at its ends by a bracket plate 20 rigidly secured adjacent the ends of the board I5. The valve is normally maintained in closed position by a spring 2| having one end secured to the board at 22 and the other end bearing upon the valve arm adjacent the head I1. For opening the valve there is provided a rod 23 extending through the valve opening I6 into engagement with the underside of the valve head I1. The opposite end of the rod is provided with a button 24 slidable through an aperture on the bottom of the bass box so as to be exposed for manual manipulation.

The rod is offset as shown in Fig. 4, so that the button 24 may be positioned inwardly from the end of the bass box. Its movement to valve opening and closingposition is guided by an eyelet 25 rigidly supported by a block 26. This limit of movement to opening position is controlled by a shoulder 21 formed thereon moving into engagement with the eyelet 25. and also a collar 28 moving into engagement with the underside of the board I5. Its outward or valve closing movement is limited by engagement between the collar 28 and eyelet 25. The above-described structure is of the character heretofore generally employed in accordance for permitting controlled air release.

Rigidly secured upon the rod I9 adjacent each end thereof there is a latching arm 29 so fixed upon the rod I9 as to extend upwardly into the bellows when the valve is in closed position and be swung rearwardly to an angular position when the valve is open. Said latching arms are formed with latching heads 30, the outer surfaces of which are angularly formed to provide cam surfaces, the heads being associated with recesses for receiving the latch pins 3|. The latch pins are rigidly secured to and extend laterally from cross bars 32 which are secured to the treble box adjacent its ends at 33 through the brackets 34.

By means or this arrangement, the bellows may be locked in collapsed position between the treble and bass box, as shown in Fig. 1, by the latching engagement of the arms 29 with the pins 3! on the bars 32, the arms being secured to the bass box and the bars 32 to the treble box. When it is desired to release the bellows for permitting playing of the instrument, it is only necessary to operate the release valve button 24, which, through the medium of the valve I! and the connecting rod [9, swings the arms 29 rearwardly away from the pins 3! on the bars 32 so that the bars are released, as shown in Fig. 2. Thereupon the valve button 24 may be released so that the spring 2| returns the valve to closed position and the arms to their normal position assisted by the auxiliary spring 35 at the other end of the rod 19. The instrument may then be operated without any engagement between the bars 32 or pins 3| with the arms or their heads 38, because in the operation of the instrument the bellows are not entirely collapsed.

When it is desired to latch the instrument with the bellows in collapsed position, the treble and base boxes may be freely brought together upon operating the valve button 24 to open the air release and permit the free escape of air from the bellows. This action moves the latching arms to unlatched position, whereupon the springs 2i and 35 will close the valve upon release of the button 24 and move the arms into position for their heads 30 to engage the pins 3i of the bars 32 for holding the treble and bass boxes tightly against the collapsed bellows until again released by manipulation of the button 24.

If the bellows are completely collapsed without manipulating the air release button, the cam surfaces of the heads 30 will be engaged by the pins 3| for moving the arms 29 slightly until the pins engage the recesses under tension of the springs. Thus, the accordion may be latched in closed position without manipulating the air release button.

The invention claimed is:

In a bellows latch mechanism for accordions having a treble box, a bass box and an intermediate bellows, comprising a pair of latching arms positioned one adjacent each end of the accordion, a rod extending longitudinally of the accordion for connecting and simultaneously actuating said arms, a pair of brackets on the other of said boxes extending into alignment with said latching arms respectively for latching engagement therewith, an air release valve associated with said bellows having an arm operably associated with said rod so that said valve is in closed position when said arms are in latching position, a spring for normally holding said valve in closed position, and an externally positioned member for opening said valve against the tension of said spring whereby said rod will be oscillated to simultaneously swing said arms to unlatching position and upon release thereof said valve will be returned to closed position under spring pressure and said arms returned to latching position.

CARL LINDEBERG. 

